Assam offers dual caste certificates for tea garden workers, tribes

Guwahati: The Assam government has announced the inclusion of a provision for dual caste certificates for present and former tea garden workers and present and former tea garden tribes.

According to the notification, applicants from these communities will now be able to obtain caste certificates under two categories -- Other Backward Classes (OBC) or More Other Backward Classes (MOBC). Assam minister Pijush Hazarika said, "To safeguard the interests of all communities, the government of Assam has now included the provision for dual caste certificates for tea garden labourers, tea garden tribes, ex-tea garden labourers, and ex-tea garden tribes. This reflects our resolve to empower marginalised groups, ensure social justice and protect community rights," he said. Based on the sub-caste classification under MOBC/OBC, the caste/community name will also be reflected as recognised by the Assam government.

The notification stated that the existing system of issuing caste certificates will continue for applicants under the first category. For those applying under the second provision, a three-member district committee will be formed, comprising a representative of a community organisation nominated by the guardian minister, along with two social workers also nominated by the guardian minister. Once recommended, the certificates will be issued by the district commissioner or the designated authority and made available through the sewa setu portal.


The tea tribe community comprises people whose forefathers came to Assam from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chotta Nagpur to work in tea gardens during the British era. The tea tribe community in Assam has been demanding Scheduled Tribe status.